May 13

Friday 13, 2005:

The United States Department of Defense issues a list of bases to be closed as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process (BRAC 2005).

Saturday 13, 2000:

In Enschede, the Netherlands, a fireworks factory explodes, killing 22 people, wounding 950, and resulting in approximately €450 million in damage.

Wednesday 13, 1998:

Following India's second round of nuclear tests the United States and Japan impose economic sanctions.

Monday 13, 1996:

Severe thunderstorms and a tornado in Bangladesh kill 600 people.

Saturday 13, 1995:

In Dublin, Ireland, Secret Garden win the fortieth Eurovision Song Contest for Norway performing "Nocturne".

Monday 13, 1985:

The mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, orders police to storm the radical group's MOVE headquarters to end a stand-off. The police drop an explosive device into the headquarters, killing 11 MOVE members and destroying the homes of 250 city residents in the resulting fire.

Wednesday 13, 1981:

Mehmet Ali Ağca attempts to assassinate Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square in Rome.

Thursday 13, 1976:

The New York Nets defeat the Denver Nuggets and win the American Basketball Association championship, 112-106, in the final ABA game ever played.

Tuesday 13, 1969:

Race riots in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, later known as the 13 May Incident.

Friday 13, 1960:

First ascent of Dhaulagiri, world's seventh-highest mountain.

Tuesday 13, 1958:

1958 - Velcro's trade mark is registered.

Thursday 13, 1948:

1948 Arab-Israeli War: The Kfar Etzion massacre is committed by Arab irregulars, the day before the declaration of independence of the state of Israel on May 14.

Thursday 13, 1943:

World War II: German Afrika Korps and Italian troops in North Africa surrender to Allied forces.

Monday 13, 1940:

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands flees the Nazi invasion in the Netherlands to Britain. Princess Juliana takes her children to Canada for their safety.

Sunday 13, 1917:

Three peasant children claim to see the Blessed Virgin Mary above a holmoak tree in Cova da Iria near Fatima, Portugal.

Tuesday 13, 1913:

Igor Sikorsky becomes the first man to pilot a four-engine aircraft.

Monday 13, 1912:

In the United Kingdom, the Royal Flying Corps (now the Royal Air Force) was established.

Thursday 13, 1909:

The first Giro d'Italia took place in Milan. Italian cyclist Luigi Ganna was the winner.

Sunday 13, 1888:

With the passage of the Lei Áurea ("Golden Law"), Brazil abolishes slavery.

Thursday 13, 1880:

In Menlo Park, New Jersey, Thomas Edison performs the first test of his electric railway.

Saturday 13, 1865:

American Civil War: Battle of Palmito Ranch – In far south Texas, more than a month after Confederate General Lee's surrender, the last land battle of the Civil War ends with a Confederate victory.

Friday 13, 1864:

American Civil War: Battle of Resaca – the battle begins with Union General Sherman fighting toward Atlanta.

Monday 13, 1861:

American Civil War: Queen Victoria of Britain issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the breakaway states as having belligerent rights.

Saturday 13, 1848:

First performance of Finland's national anthem.

Wednesday 13, 1846:

Mexican-American War: The United States declares war on Mexico.

Thursday 13, 1830:

Ecuador gains its independence.

Sunday 13, 1787:

Captain Arthur Phillip leaves Portsmouth, England with eleven ships full of convicts to establish a penal colony in Australia.

Thursday 13, 1779:

War of Bavarian Succession: Russian and French mediators at the Congress of Teschen negotiate an end to the war. In the agreement Austria receives the part of its territory that was taken from them (the Inn District).

Monday 13, 1619:

Dutch statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt is executed in The Hague after having been accused of treason.

Sunday 13, 1607:

Jamestown, Virginia, is settled as an English colony.

Monday 13, 1568:

Battle of Langside: the forces of Mary Queen of Scots are defeated by a confederacy of Scottish Protestants under James Stewart, Earl of Moray, her half-brother.

Thursday 13, 1497:

Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola.

More on May, 13

• People Born on May, 13
• They left us on May, 13